Silo sealer



SILO SEALER A. J. KREBSBACH Filed Dec. 15,1927

Dec. '4, 1 928.

Patented Dec. 4, 1928 UNITED STA ALOIS J. KREBSBACH, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

1,694,016 Price.

SILO SEALER.

Application filed December 15, 1927. Serial No. 240,300.

In the conservation of feed for stock ensilage is stored in silos and unless the air is excluded the feed deteriorates and becomes unfit for food and is Consequently discarded.

The present invention provides a cover of textile or analogous material to be placed upon the ensilage after the silo has been packed, said cover including a bottom and sides to provide a container for the reception of water which hermetically seals the silo and supplies pressure to condense the ensilage. r

The present invention provides for erection of the sides of the cover as the latter is supplied with water, thereby preventing the ,water overflowing the sides and holding them down upon the bottom of the cover.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sides of the cover are rendered buoyant so as to automatically rise with the level of the water, floats being attached to the inwardly facing side adjacent the top of the cover so as not to obstruct the outer side and prevent a close fit thereof against the walls of the silo.

T Vhile the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of the upper portion of the silo provided with a cover embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover as it appears with the sides erected.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showingone method of withdrawing the water from thecover. v

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 8, showing a different method of removing the water from the cover by siphonic action.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cover showing the sides resting upon the bottom.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 denotes a conventional form of silo which is provided with a roof 2. The silo is adapted to receive ensilage 3 which may be of any nature and supplied to the'silo in any determinate way. In the form illustrated in Figure 3, an opening 4 is provided in a side of the silo. near the top thereof to receive a hose pipe 5 for drawing of]? Water from the cover.

The flexible cover formingthe basis of the present invention may consist of textile or other suitable material and comprises a bottom 6 and a wall 7 which may be stitched. or secured. in any manner to the bottom. The cover is adapted to fit snugly within the silo so that its sides or wall 7 may obtain a close fit against the inner wall of the silo to the exclusion of air. By reason of the nature of the material from which the cover is formed the sides 7 normally tend to rest upon the bottom 6, as indicated most clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings. To insure an erection of the side walls when supplying water to the cover, the same are rendered buoyant usually by the application of floats 8 to the top portion thereof adjacent the inner face, thereby leaving the outer face unobstructed so as to obtain a close ,fit against the inner wall of the silo. The floats 8 may be of any light material such as cork and may be attached to the wall 7 of the cover in any determinate way. i

A tube 9 is attached to the bottom 6 of the cover preferably adjacent a side thereof and projects aboveand below the bottom. Openings 10 are formed in the upper portion of the tube 9 adjacent the bottom 6 to insure a complete draining of the cover when draw ing off the water therefrom. The hose pipe 5 may be coupled to the lower end of the tube 9, after being passedthrough the opening 4, when it is required to draw off the water from the cover. The lower end of the tube 9 is closed by means of a cap 11, thereby preventing escape of the water. When the cover is adjacent the top of the silo the hose pipe 5 may be passed over the top edge of the silo and coupled to the upper end of the tube 9, as indicated most clearly in Figure 4. This admits of drawing off the water from the cover by siphonic action, as will be readily understood.

After the silo 1 has been supplied with ensilage 3, the cover is placed in position and spread so as to extend over the contents of r the silo. Water is supplied to the cover in any usual or preferred Way. As the level of the water rises the sides 7 of the cdver are caused to rise by the buoyant action of the floatsS and in this manner the water is prevented from passing over the sides 7 and weighting the same and preventing their erection. The

Water within the cover exerts an outward pressure upon the sides 7 and holds them in close contact with the inner wall of the silo, thereby hermetically sealing the ensilage and preventing deterioration thereof. Moreover, the weight of the water exerts a pressure upon the ensilage which is gradually condensed, thereby making room for supplying additional ensilage to the silo. This necessitates removal of the cover, which is effected after the water contained therein has been drawn off by eitherof the methods shown in Figures 3 or 4, or in any other preferred way.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: V v

1. A flexible silo cover comprising a bottom and sides, the latter being rendered buoyant for automatic erection by therise of the level of the water as it is su plied to the cover.

2. A silo cover of exible material comprisinga bottom and sides and a buoyant medium applied to the top edge of the sides to insure automatic erection of said sides by the rise of level of the water as the latter is supplied to the cover.

A silo cover of flexible material comprising a bottom and sides, and buoyant means applied to the inner face of the sides adjacent the top edge thereof.

4:. A silo cover of flexible material comprising a bottom and sides, and a plurality offlfioats applied to the top portions of the SH es. I

5. A silo cover of flexible material comprising a bottom and sides, and a plurality of floats applied to the inner face of the sides adjacent the top edge thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

] ALOIS J. KREBSBACH. a 5. 

